Sign in

Robert van Engelen, PhD

@engelen.bsky.social
1.3K followers 797 following 166 posts

Possessed by math and coding since the 80s, vintage tech enthusiast, steam engines fanatic, CEO/CTO of Genivia, Professor of Computer Science and Scientific Computing | NYC | 🇺🇸🇳🇱 | defend democracy | support 🇺🇦 | please be kind to animals🙏

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The United States, which once freed prisoners from Germany's concentration camps, is now siding with the war criminals—and obstructing those who would hold them into account. Shameful—if this administration had any shame.
yacnews.com
US prepares to sanction the ICC, that indicted Russia's Putin and Israel's Netanyahu for war crimes
Trump is preparing sanctions against the International Criminal Court itself, potentially cutting it off from U.S. banking, technology and services. The US has already sanctioned 13 ICC officials and ...
21028801209
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
404 Media @404media.co · 14/09/2026
NEW: EXCLUSIVE: Humans are reading ChatGPT users’ prompts to improve OpenAI’s models, and those chats can include sensitive, personal information, according to leaked internal documents and real prompts seen by 404 Media. @josephcox.bsky.social reports. Scoop here: www.404media.co/inside-proje...
17298157
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 09/09/2026
Not to brag, but our product has been foldable since 1828.
142135272191
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
The title really says it all.
506191696870
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Тsфdiиg @tsoding.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
C++ is probably the most valuable language. It provides lvalues, rvalues, prvalues, xvalues, glvalues...
51096
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
I was in NYC and saw the morgue trucks. Emergency hospital tents in Central Park because ICUs were full. A hospital ship arrived to increase capacity. Streets were empty. Saw from my window emergency personnel in full-body protection suit collect people.
000
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
lol
4171
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
JanetLC @janetlc.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Experts run the numbers and declare Tesla Cybertruck as the biggest flop in US automotive history, overtaking the Ford Edsel flip.it/tBWzsA
flip.it
Experts run the numbers and declare Tesla Cybertruck as the biggest flop in US automotive history, overtaking the Ford Edsel
The Tesla Cybertruck has been labelled the 'biggest flop in US automotive history', usurping the Ford Edsel - and the numbers are pretty shocking
41554111377
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Hackaday @hackadayofficial.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
QT6 brings BASIC to the Web Browser, or Your Computer
hackaday.com
QT6 brings BASIC to the Web Browser, or Your Computer
Hackaday Article
2397
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Massimo (mirror) @rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
The NASA climate spiral visualization presents monthly global temperature anomalies, deviations from a long term global average. Original post
31724420
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Yeah, it kinda stinks
05516
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Is AI ruining our skills? Early results are in — and they’re not good
Reliance on artificial-intelligence tools degrades the abilities of physicians and software engineers, studies show.
000
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Corey Rayburn Yung @coreyryung.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I hate Windows so much. It's PATH environment variables never work properly. But, today, I discovered a new form of bullshit. By default, typing "python" at the command prompt would open the Microsoft Store to a python installer rather than running python b/c a program alias setting.
4859339
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
#MayThe4th Happy Star Wars Day – May the Force be with you! ✨ Looking for a real-life galaxy far, far away? The Zweibrücken Observatory has you covered! 🔭 #StarWarsDay 📷 www.zeit.de/zett/2019-03...
A large, white-and-blue dome-shaped observatory that resembles Star Wars‘ R2-D2 stands beside a smaller physical model of the same character, set against a backdrop of a partly cloudy sky and a tree on the right.
151154246
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Massimo (mirror) @rainmaker1973-m.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
Whoever dubbed this is great Original post
13918
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Vox 🇺🇲 @voxrox.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
#WonderfulBirdWednesday Right in the middle of rain, the photo was captured the split second a droplet of water landed on the #Robins head like a crown! 👑 04/2026 #Birds #Nature #FlawlessTiming 🌟 #FMSPAD #SomethingThatFlies #Birdsky #Wildlife #Photography #BirdPhotography #Macrophotography
A color, macrophoto of a Robin perched on a branch in Virginia, during late April, 2026. The capture was taken during rain and the photographer snapped the photo at the split second a raindrop fell on the top of the bird's head, making it appear like a "natural" crown.
📸 Dawn Denise Boyer of Gloucester, Virginia
195434874
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
NYC covered in snow (again) after the blizzard. Magical to walk in Central Park. The peace and tranquility of these views remind me of old Dutch Masters winter landscape paintings.
020
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Notice something? Software bugs are proliferating everywhere fast. Almost daily something that used to work, now glitches. Besides being annoying, it’s embarrassing and may lead to serious accidents. Hire good engineers for crying out loud. And don’t rely on AI to mess up, for real engineers to fix.
010
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
Psion 5mx, the pda of the 90s. It’s very useful, perhaps even today. Has a usable keyboard. Runs a full month on a pair of AA batteries! The 90s hi-res 4 gray shades LCDs aren’t the most legible. Backlight helps a bit. Did you have one? Like it or exchange it to something else of the same period?
231
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
adafruit @adafruit.com · 01/02/2026
gm rise and grind, since 1979... WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM
vintage radio shack instruction manual cover titled “radio shack presents eliza.” cream-colored background with a black silhouette profile of a woman’s head at center. inside the silhouette, white text reads “how do you do? my name is eliza. what is your problem?” large red text below says “the amazing artificial intelligence simulation.” smaller text notes it is for use with trs-80 microcomputer systems. overall look is 1970s–1980s consumer computing design, earnest and slightly uncanny.
3549
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
@davidfrum.bsky.social
8422939710028
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Shipwreck @shipwreck75.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Trump says the US "needs" Greenland for security reasons. But Danish officials have already offered him the ability to increase America's military presence there. “The option has been on the table...the White House is not interested.” www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
politico.com
Trump says his Greenland fixation is about national security. Europeans are skeptical.
Denmark’s prime minister urged the U.S. to increase its military presence in Greenland but the White House showed little interest in the offer.
56124
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 31/12/2025
ASML is an amazing company with amazing “unreasonable” people (watch to understand what that means). As a kid in the 80s I was lucky to visit Philips NatLab where my dad worked on silicon wafers to analyze properties of IC etching. But that was long before ASML youtu.be/MiUHjLxm3V0?...
youtu.be
The Ridiculous Engineering Of The World's Most Important Machine
YouTube video by Veritasium
000
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Retro Dream @retrodream.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Part of my studio. Real stuff nostalgia: CRT scanlines, genuine hardware, loading from floppies, using ball mouse and wild joystick! Re-creating the same gaming conditions as back then. That's my philosophy. Here's how I build my setup : youtu.be/BhgM-b59cKI
81069
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
We are failing our kids
66487704937
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Yesterday’s chore: fighting back Entropy by recombining kids Lego pieces back into complete sets to save. But Lego fought back with some brittle brown pieces self-destructing in my hand 💥 So sad 😔
140
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
Toshiba HX-10 AA checkup and cleaning. Mechanical Alps keyboard is rock solid and very nice to type on. Having great fun with this industrial-looking beauty. Good to have and use for my ForthMSX development and testing with MegaRam and PicoMSX+. #MSX #Forth
040
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Fixed! RGB output via Scart Looks amazing (compared to composite). A tiny bit of jailbars effect on the blue background, something to fix later perhaps. Likely some other caps that are out of spec.
Sony Hit Bit 75B startup with Sony MSX productivity software showing up on screen, with wedge-shaped MSX machine in front of it.Playing Galaga game with MegaRam cartridge.
050
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
Fixing a Sony Hit Bit 75B 1983. Let’s see if this baby works. I suspect it was not turned on for decades, as the 240V UK power cord was cut off. Got that fixed. But before I power this thing on, I want to replace the two crusty filter caps at the 462 and 473 transistor boards above a huge heat sink.
010
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
DelaneyKirk @delaneykirk.bsky.social · 02/11/2025
1238470
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
🎃 "Headless Slicer" cuts deep on Halloween nights 😱 Can you guess what it does? Some new retro wizardry Forthcoming! #retro #halloween #msx #forth #compiler #z80
Forth MAIN program to print Happy Halloween :-) show unused bytes free and loop 10 timesCompiler with "slicing" optimization to create small headless binaries from Forth source code (without interpreter and with unused words sliced off). Only 1211 bytes binary remains with the Forth internals, runtime, and Forth words to run the compiled program for Halloween.On an MSX1 machine screen, shows the binary hallow.bin program being loaded and run with its output "Happy Halloween" and a smiley (no pumpkin Emoji on MSX alas).
030
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Happy retro Halloween! 🎃
010
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
But does it connect to an Atari or Commodore 8-bit computer? Or maybe a 2-bit computer?
132
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Thomas Cherryhomes @tschak909.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
I keep trying to tell people about #FujiNet. That it is a WiFi adapter for your favorite #Atari8bit, #Apple2, #ColecoAdam, #TRS80CoCo, #Commodore, #Atari2600, #AtariLynx, and #MSDOS machines, with more to come. But word isn't getting out. Can u help? fujinet.online
fujinet.online
FujiNet - The Future of Retro Computing
The Future of Retro Computing
410456
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
Made some progress! Got MSX VDP and VRAM access and control in ForthMSX now working. Playing around with a bit of Forth code to twinkle bitmapped stars live on screen in text mode (picture only below, sorry no GIF). Much faster than BASIC on my Sony MSX2. #MSX #Forth #Z80 github.com/Robert-van-E...
ForthMSX code with comments. >VDP sets a VDP register. VRAM sets the VRAM address in the VDP. >VRAM writes a block of data to the VRAM. VRAM> (not shown) reads a block of data from VRAM. The star word is an array of 4 bitmapped characters that the second loop cycles through to twinkle stars that were drawn by the first loop of random placements of 250 stars.Not animated here, but the live animated stars twinkle at a high frame rate. This is the emulator, because I can't capture my Sony MSX screen.
020
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
🎉 ForthMSX is now available as open source on GitHub GitHub.com/Robert-van-E...
010
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 12/10/2025
More fun stuff this weekend with my new Forth system for the MSX. New Forth words for floats using the MSX built-in Math Pack and new Forth file system words using MSX-DOS1. Forth internals are mostly written in assembly for speed. Next up are graphics+sound for game dev. #MSX #Forth #z80 #assembly
MSX emu window showing FORTH loaded with 11K free. then loading "files.fth" to add the FILES word. Executing FILES lists the files on drive A: The ANEW command to load "files.fth" is mine (non standard), which reloads a file with Forth REQUIRE when already loaded and deletes its old definitions. That's useful when updating files to load and test.MSX emu window. Shows loading "primes.fth" with primer generator sieve of Eratosthenes written in Forth. The command line 50 sieve outputs primes up to 50. The line 1000 sieve outputs primes up to 1000 in about 3 seconds.MSX emu window. Loading big-pi.fth to output digits of pi up to 9864 digits. The anew big.pi.fth command loads the program. 152 big-pi outputs the first 152 digits of pi, taking about 50 seconds. 400 big-pi outputs the first 400 digits of pi taking much longer.MSX emu window. Loading Jupiter Ace program CALENDER.FTH to display calendars. The command 2025 October outputs the calendar for the month of October 2025. Likewise, 2025 December outputs the calendar for the month of December 2025. The Jupiter Ace was a Forth 8-bit home computer instead of a BASIC home computer. It was not a success. Jupiter Ace also supports editing and redefining Forth words, which is not a common feature of Forth. Its Forth implementation is not as fast though.
020
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Sharpworks @sharpworks.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
#Sharptember A chance find amongst a bunch of tapes I won in an auction turned up something pretty interesting, a compilation tape of games written by Col Needham (the inventor of IMDb) and possibly his master tape from which he sold his mail order games. Here's his game "UFO Attack".
1123
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 22/09/2025
Having fun coding a new Forth interpreter/compiler in Z80 assembly for the MSX. Making it wicked fast, based on Forth850 that I wrote for the Sharp PC850. MSX Pico+ is a *fantastic* cartridge to get my files over wifi. No AI coding assistance needed, thank you. #MSX #forth
Forth coding and testing the screen editor, displayed on a small monitor using an original MSX2 machine, a Sony Hit Bit F1XD with the fantastic MSX Pico+ to receive my assembled Forth binary files over wifi from a file server I set up.
1144
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
[The Great War & Modern Memory] @ps9714.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
#RIP Robert Redford. ➡️BREAKING: Robert #Redford, the actor and director who sailed to Hollywood stardom with turns in classics such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men” died Tuesday morning at his home in Utah. He was 89.
BREAKING: 

Robert Redford, the actor and director who sailed to Hollywood stardom with turns in classics such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” and “All the President’s Men” and invigorated American independent cinema as one of the founders of the Sundance Film Festival, died Tuesday morning at his home in Utah, the New York Times reported.

He was 89.
🔗 : https://nbcnews.to/4nwKBW7
613437
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
I’ve updated tinylisp in 99 lines of C. Adding color output to Lisp traces in the “extras” version. Also added backquoting/unquoting and some more examples. #lisp github.com/Robert-van-E...
github.com
GitHub - Robert-van-Engelen/tinylisp: Lisp in 99 lines of C and how to write one yourself. Includes 21 Lisp primitives, garbage collection and REPL. Includes tail-call optimized versions for speed and...
Lisp in 99 lines of C and how to write one yourself. Includes 21 Lisp primitives, garbage collection and REPL. Includes tail-call optimized versions for speed and reduced memory use. - Robert-van-E...
020
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
Didn’t think it was possible, but Super Mario World runs on MSX2 (Sony HB-F1XD) with MSX Pico+ cartridge. Sound and music with SCC on the audio jack. Brilliant! #MSX
030
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Insta Science @instascience.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
Blue Ghost's view of the moon at 100km altitude. -Credits: NASA
743202545
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Jason Moore @moorejh.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
Open Circuits is a photographic exploration of the beautiful design inside everyday electronics. Its stunning cross-section photography unlocks a hidden world full of elegance, subtle complexity, and wonder. amzn.to/3H6M1H8 #electronics #photography
amzn.to
Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components (Packaging may vary)
Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components (Packaging may vary) [Oskay, Windell, Schlaepfer, Eric] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Open Circuits: The Inner Beauty of Electronic Components (Packaging may vary)
061
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
Tinylisp in 99 lines of C added an "extras" version with more user-friendly features and runtime optimizations explained in the accompanying article. #lisp github.com/Robert-van-E...
github.com
GitHub - Robert-van-Engelen/tinylisp: Lisp in 99 lines of C and how to write one yourself. Includes 21 Lisp primitives, garbage collection and REPL. Includes tail-call optimized versions for speed and...
Lisp in 99 lines of C and how to write one yourself. Includes 21 Lisp primitives, garbage collection and REPL. Includes tail-call optimized versions for speed and reduced memory use. - Robert-van-E...
000
Robert van Engelen, PhD @engelen.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Got some lovely new MSX goodies ❤️
Sony Hit Bit F1XDmk2 MSX2 computer with original box. Mostly black with tan floppy drive unit integrated to the right of the machine.Toshiba HX-10AA MSX computer sold on Dutch and Belgium markets (1983 or about). With original box, blue Basic Reference Manual, green Owner’s Manual, cassette tape with 5 example programs. The computer case is black with gray keyboard underlay, off-white keys, and special keys in red, green, blue and dark grey.
120
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Time Extension @timeextension.com · 25/06/2025
Here's Your Third (And Probably Final) Chance To Own A ZX Spectrum Next. (Image: @ZXSpectrumNext) (Repost)
timeextension.com
Here's Your Third (And Probably Final) Chance To Own A ZX Spectrum Next
"Mark the date, spread the word far and wide"
13116
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Wonder of Science @wonderofscience.bsky.social · 15/07/2025
Colored droplets in corn syrup seemingly blended together can be returned to their original state by reversing the direction of mixing, a form of laminar flow called "Stokes flow". Credit: UNM Physics & Astronomy
3135983982
Reposted by Robert van Engelen, PhD
Patton Oswalt @pattonoswalt.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
“Superman is too woke!” Literally the first page of the first ever appearance of Superman:
717293767149